At A Glance Author elizabeh Contact ChunkyPhlegm@aol.com Artist Tommy Studio Industrial Strength Location Berkeley, Ca Beginning
I guess ever since I was about 12 maybe 13 I had wanted my tongue pierced. It was something different and I wasn't exposed to anybody with any mods. My mom was never really into it so I never got her consent to do. After turning 18 I naturally wanted to get something pierced and I chose my tongue to be my first one. Being cheap I really wasn't into spending 50 bucks or even more but I got lucky and went to Industrial Strength in Berkeley, Ca where they had a "special" going on. All piercings 25 dollars. Score! So I convinced my friend Monica and her boyfriend to go with me and we began our "journey".
Middle
Despite everything I had heard about getting my tongue pierced, I was still freaked out. The thought of a needle going through any part of my body just doesn't sound appealing. I went up to the counter and told them I wanted my tongue pierced (I had my tragus done also) I was told to stick out my tongue and then stick it up. I don't know if I was nervous or what but I know I looked retarded. They laughed and said it was cool. I also had them check my tragus cuz I thought it would be too small to pierce but it wasn't. They asked for id and I handed them my passport and filled out a form and was told to wait a minute while the piercer got ready. Couple of minutes later he came out and told me to follow him into the first room, Monica and Gary in tow. While he got everything in order I was treated to his wall of work.... Pictures of all different piercings he had done. I'd just like to say that Tommy has seen a lot of pussy in his career. When he was ready he gave me a cup of Listerine I swished for a while, he dried off my tongue...kinda fuzzy from here on...I think he got the clamps ready.that was the uncomfortable part.i grabbed monicas hand and he told me to get ready and the next thing I remember I had a needle in my tongue. Not really any pain. Kind of a ripping sensation and pressure. I was in total amazement. I had this cool ass rush go through my body and it lasted for like 20 minutes. It's almost embarrassing to talk about how dumb I must have looked. He put the jewelry in and tightened the balls and I was done. Tommy was a sexy bitch. My tragus piercing is just a blur. He could have pierced it with a stapler and I would have been oblivious. I don't know if he used clamps but he stuck the needle in and I thought it was pierced but in a moment of clarity I thought "I didn't hear any kind of pop like you're supposed to with cartilage" and then I heard it and yelled out "fuck" He smiled and said that one hurt you a little huh?
Afterwards
I really wasn't sure when it was supposed to swell, but I was good until later on that night. Of course I was starving and I had to eat something. I had my aunt cook some scrambled eggs and I went for it. Turned out to be a mistake. I couldn't swallow because it hurt too much and I had a barbell in the way of chewing. So I thought about it for a minute and figured my eggs were already pretty soft so I really didn't need to chew instead I mashed them with my fork but I still had to swallow so I threw my head back place some eggs past the barbell and swallowed. An hour later I finished my eggs, but I couldn't really talk. I did my mouth care, which I think was brushing my teeth, diluted Listerine and peroxyl (sp) took some Advil and slept. I woke up the next morning in pain. My tongue felt way too big for my mouth, dry and like I had burned it. I got up took some more Advil, mouth care and ate more eggs. For the next 3 or 4 days I was on an Advil and egg diet. Then the swelling stopped and I had to get used to have it in my mouth. I played with it constantly even though I was advised not to. I always seemed to want stuff I couldn't have like jalanpenos, lemonade and hot sauce.
2 weeks later I went back to get a different barbell. The SS felt huge and heavy in my mouth and I opted for a titanium one with pinkish lavender ends (kinda dingy looking now)
Overall it was a good experience. It really didn't hurt it was more of an annoyance waiting for it to heal. Even though everybody seems to have his or her tongue pierced it's still my favorite piercing.
The 2 things I can't stand is when people ask if it hurt and/or imply that it's for oral sex
I think I look at it as yeah it hurt for a little bit but its there for good now and its just part of the experience and what I do with my with my mouth is my business. =)